Ozone production rate as a function of electric field strength in oxygen

Abstract

The ozone production rate in a dc low-current non-self-sustained discharge (dark discharge) in oxygen is measured systematically as a function of gas pressure and electric field strength in the range of reduced field strengths E/N = 120–800 Td and pressures p = 7–160 kPa. The fraction of energy consumed by electrons in the dark discharge is calculated and the ozone generation efficiency (the maximal energetic yield of ozone in an idealized discharge with negligible ion losses) is estimated. The reaction rate coefficient for oxygen dissociation by electron impact, deduced from the efficiency curve, is proposed.